Lunch- A Character Study

[captainsblog]

I. The Price Thereof.



So this reading-books-on-the-iPhone thing isn't quite the modern miracle I thought it was. When I went to resume my read yesterday, I discovered that the download link had timed out, and could not be refreshed. No problem, though; I had a book-book with me and worked nicely through that, then mailed the actual .pdf of the book to myself so I could continue reading. 

Which I could, but with what my mother used to call "compications."  The whatever-the-hell-it-is .pdf reader app I installed (the phone not coming with one, Apple believing all things Adobe are of the devil) has no navigation tools, and, worse, does not use the browser to open the document but essentially treats it as a 338-page email message. Which means, if you get any other mail, you need to back out, and then back in and re-find your place.

Fortunately, I know the publisher:)  Who recommended an app called Stanza that might just do the trick.

Here's where Candlemark & Gleam exit the stage, and Apple & Hell enter, seventh stage.  Stanza is a free app.  Therefore, the iStore finds it absolutely necessary to have me update my credit card information in order to "buy" it.  Sixteen numbers known from memory- check. Expiry- check. Damn, what's that security code? Make a guess (it USED to be xxx before some asshacker at TJ Maxx caused my bank to reissue every one of their gorram cards). No good. Trundle out to wallet, pull card, oh yeah, the old court phone number started with that!, triumphantly put it in, and....

Your session has timed out. Please start again.

I do. Now I get a beatdown because I am accessing the Store from a "different computer." Le Crash, again it returns to haunt me. But one final verification later, it puts Stanza on my phonetop where I don't want it, and I clumsily create subfolders I also don't want before, finally, the display looks right (as it will remain until I pocket-rearrange it without even trying sometime later today.)

Jeebus. I can only imagine how hard this would be if it actually cost money.

So it's on there, at least. Now to find the version that works with it and see what this baby can actually do. And please- I'll get the check.

----

II. The Remains of the Lunch.

Eleanor and I have colonoscopy appointments for two weeks from tomorrow.  Not the real thing- the consults, and delivery of the pre-scope cocktails and, maybe, an explanation for why a doctor's office needs our feckin' social security numbers which the insurance company doesn't even use anymore.

----

See you tonight. Dinner at 8. Don't be late.

Comments

[bktheirregular]

I think that the latest version of the iPhone e-book software can also handle PDF's. Not sure it's a *good* PDF reader, though.

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

"Latest version" and "iPhone" are oxymoronic. I'm one of those iPhone 3 schnooks who downloaded the 4.0 software and have been slowed to a crawl ever since. I can upgrade in March....I can upgrade in March.... I can upgrade in March....

[bktheirregular]

Hey, at least you can upgrade at all. I'm locking myself out of the iPhone fracas because getting one with a decent amount of memory would cost about a thousand dollars here. Upgrade discount? Whoever's heard of that?

(I broke down and got an iPod because Pocket PC's are dead and I learned in the Army that I can't carry Greek-English dictionaries in my pockets.)

[firynze.livejournal.com]

Oh criminy. I am so sorry this is turning into such a hassle for you!

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

Nonono. For you, it's beta testing. For me, it's learning how to live in this Brave New World once Apple takes it over.

(And I just bought another copy for my winner. Paypal was still a pain, but less of one than Apple;)

[firynze.livejournal.com]

Heh, too true, on both points.

I'm glad Paypal was at least less of a pain this time...

[headbanger118.livejournal.com]

I am reminded of Rupert Giles's comment on books vs. computers on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer": I know. Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower, or a-a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell musty and-and-and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is a - it, uh, it has no-no texture, no-no context. It's-it's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then-then the getting of knowledge should be, uh, tangible, it should be, um, smelly.